You’ve seen them. Those glossy, high-saturation pictures of the Anthem of the Seas that look like a futuristic city floating on a pane of glass. They make the North Star—that giant glass observation capsule—look like it’s hovering in space. But honestly? A camera lens usually fails to capture how massive this thing actually is when you’re standing on the pier in Bayonne or Southampton. It’s a Quantum-class beast.
Royal Caribbean launched this ship in 2015, and since then, it has become one of the most photographed vessels in the world. People love it. Or they love to post about it. Whether it's the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator or the Bionic Bar where robots mix your drinks, the ship was basically designed for social media before "Instagrammable" was even a common word in the travel industry.
But here’s the thing. Most people looking at these photos are trying to figure out if the ship is actually worth the premium price tag or if it's just a crowded mall at sea. You want the truth behind the pixels.
What You See vs. Reality in Anthem of the Seas Photography
When you scroll through a gallery of pictures of the Anthem of the Seas, you usually see a wide-open SeaPlex. It looks like a cavernous, empty sports arena. In reality? That space is a chaotic, high-energy hub where bumper cars collide, people play basketball, and circus schools happen all at once. It’s loud. It’s vibrant. It’s nothing like the sterile, quiet images you see in a brochure.
The lighting matters too.
Royal Caribbean’s designers, including the folks at Wilson Butler Architects, used a ton of glass. This ship was built for the North Atlantic, meaning it’s designed to keep you warm while you look at the cold ocean. If you’re taking your own photos, the "Golden Hour" on the pool deck is legendary because of those massive glass canopies. They catch the light in a way that makes the whole deck glow.
But let’s talk about the staterooms. A professional photo makes a "Virtual Balcony" interior room look like a magic window to the world. For the uninitiated, these are floor-to-ceiling 80-inch high-definition screens that project live footage from outside the ship. It's a clever trick. In person, it’s remarkably convincing, but it’s still a screen. You can't smell the salt air through a circuit board, obviously.
The North Star Angle
The most iconic shot anyone takes is from the North Star. It’s a Guinness World Record holder for the highest viewing deck on a cruise ship. When you’re up there, 300 feet above sea level, the perspective is dizzying.
Pro tip: if you want the best pictures of the Anthem of the Seas from this vantage point, you have to aim for the "over the side" shot. Most people just take a selfie with their face blocking the ship. Don’t do that. Lean against the glass—carefully—and look straight down the side of the hull. You see the engineering. You see the way the bulbous bow cuts through the Atlantic swells. It’s a perspective most sailors never got for centuries.
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The Design Language of a Quantum-Class Giant
Anthem isn't just a bigger version of older ships. It’s a pivot. The layout is different. You’ve got the Royal Esplanade instead of a massive Promenade. It feels more like a high-end boutique street in London or New York than a mall.
Look at photos of the art. Seriously. There is a multi-million dollar art collection on board. The "Pulse Spiral" chandelier by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is a fan favorite. It actually flashes to the beat of human hearts. You can’t capture the rhythm of a heartbeat in a static JPEG, which is why video is usually better for the interior spaces.
Two70: The Photographer’s Nightmare and Dream
Then there’s Two70. This space is located at the stern. It has 270-degree panoramic views through windows that are three decks high. During the day, it’s a living room. At night, it turns into a theater with "Vistarama" technology.
Basically, the windows turn into digital screens.
If you are trying to take photos here, the glare is a nightmare. But if you catch it during a performance of Spectra’s Cabaret, the blend of live performers and digital backdrops is surreal. It’s a visual overload. Expert photographers usually bring a polarizing filter just for this room to cut down on the reflections from the massive glass walls.
Why the Itinerary Changes the "Vibe" of the Photos
The Anthem of the Seas spends a lot of time in the New York area (Cape Liberty) and the UK. This means the pictures of the Anthem of the Seas you see often feature gray skies or dramatic, moody Atlantic clouds.
It’s a tough ship to photograph in the rain.
When the ship is in the Caribbean, the white superstructure pops against the turquoise water. But when it’s docked in New Jersey with the Manhattan skyline in the background? That’s the money shot. There is something profoundly impressive about seeing this 168,000-ton vessel framed by the Freedom Tower.
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Hidden Spots for Better Angles
Most passengers crowd the pool deck for photos. Big mistake.
If you want the "wow" factor, head to the Solarium at the very front of the ship. It’s an adults-only space with tiered lagoons and massive windows. Because it’s right over the bridge, you get the captain’s view. It’s quiet. The light is filtered through the glass roof, creating a soft, natural glow that is perfect for portraits.
Another spot? The "Gigi the Giraffe" statue. She’s a 32-foot yellow giraffe wearing a pink inner tube. She lives on the top deck. It’s quirky, it’s weird, and it’s the definitive "I’m on Anthem" photo.
Technical Specs That Matter for Enthusiasts
For the nerds out there, the ship is 1,141 feet long. That’s nearly four football fields. When you’re trying to fit that into a single frame, you need a wide-angle lens. Even a 24mm on a full-frame camera often isn't enough if you're standing on the pier.
- Gross Tonnage: 168,666
- Decks: 16 passenger-accessible decks
- Speed: 22 knots (about 25 mph)
- Bow Thrusters: 4, with 4,694 horsepower each
When the ship is moving, the wake is another great photo op. Anthem uses an "Air Lubrication System." It actually blows tiny bubbles under the hull to reduce friction. You can sometimes see the effect in photos of the water around the ship; it looks slightly different than the wake of an older vessel.
Common Misconceptions About the Ship’s Size
People see pictures of the Anthem of the Seas and assume it’s the biggest ship in the world. It’s not. That honor belongs to the Icon and Oasis-class ships.
However, Anthem feels "taller" in some ways because of its proportions. It’s narrower than the Oasis-class, which allows it to fit into more ports. This architectural choice means the outdoor spaces are more vertical. You have the rock climbing wall and the FlowRider surf simulator stacked in a way that creates a massive "adventure" wall at the back of the ship.
The Bionic Bar Gimmick?
You’ll see a thousand photos of the robot arms at the Bionic Bar. Are they cool? Yes. Do they make a better drink than a human? Honestly, no. They’re a bit slow, and the interface is basically a tablet. But for a photo? They’re gold. The way the lasers catch the glass bottles hanging from the ceiling is a masterclass in modern lighting design.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
If you’re planning to visit or sail on this ship and want to document it properly, don’t just snap away wildly.
1. Use the Royal Caribbean App Map.
The ship is a maze. The app actually has a decent deck plan that helps you find the public art installations which are often tucked away in elevator lobbies. These are the best "undiscovered" photo spots.
2. Timing the North Star.
If you want the best aerial pictures of the Anthem of the Seas, book your North Star slot for sunset. But be warned: these slots disappear months in advance. If you wait until you’re on board, you’ll be stuck with a 10:00 AM slot when the sun is harsh and the shadows are ugly.
3. Night Photography.
The ship looks entirely different at night. The neon blues and purples of the pool deck are incredible. Use a long exposure if you have a tripod (or just brace your phone against a railing). The "Anthem" nameplate on the side of the ship glows with a specific LED temperature that looks great against a dark sky.
4. Capture the Scale with People.
A photo of an empty deck looks like a 3D render. To show how big the ship is, put a person in the frame. Standing next to one of the 20-foot tall lifeboats really puts the 168,000 tons into perspective.
5. Check the Port Schedule.
If you want a photo of the ship from the outside, research where it docks. In Cozumel, you can often walk down the pier and get a full profile shot. In Nassau, you’re usually sandwiched between four other ships, making a clean photo almost impossible.
The Anthem of the Seas is a feat of engineering that happens to be very pretty. It bridges the gap between the old-school elegance of ocean liners and the "theme park at sea" vibe of modern cruising. While the photos give you a glimpse, the actual scale of the ship—the vibration of the engines, the wind on the North Star, the smell of the pizza at Sorrento’s—is something the camera just hasn't mastered yet.
The best way to experience the ship is to put the phone down for at least one sunset. Take the photo, sure. But then just look at the horizon. That’s the one thing the pictures always get right: the ocean is bigger than the ship, even a ship as massive as this one.